U.S. patent application number 12/527703 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-13 for air-bag cover hinge with pressure-sensing system.
Invention is credited to Albert Roring.
Application Number | 20100117339 12/527703 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39265366 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100117339 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roring; Albert |
May 13, 2010 |
AIR-BAG COVER HINGE WITH PRESSURE-SENSING SYSTEM
Abstract
The invention relates to an airbag cover hinge comprising a
textile hinge, which can be connected to the airbag cover as well
as to a supporting part surrounding the airbag cover, wherein the
airbag cover hinge has a textile base structure, in which stop
threads are integrated, the tensile strength of which is higher
than of the textile base structure and the length of which is
greater than the textile base structure.
Inventors: |
Roring; Albert; (Gronau-Epe,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
K.F. ROSS P.C.
5683 RIVERDALE AVENUE, SUITE 203 BOX 900
BRONX
NY
10471-0900
US
|
Family ID: |
39265366 |
Appl. No.: |
12/527703 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
February 20, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2008/001312 |
371 Date: |
August 19, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/728.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 21/215 20130101;
B60R 2021/2163 20130101; B60R 21/216 20130101; B60R 2021/21537
20130101; Y10T 16/521 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/728.3 |
International
Class: |
B60R 21/20 20060101
B60R021/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 21, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 009 058.9 |
Nov 28, 2007 |
DE |
20 2007 016 718.0 |
Claims
1. An air-bag cover hinge having a textile hinge which can be
connected to both the air-bag cover and to a support carrying the
air-bag cover wherein the air-bag cover hinge has a textile base
structure, in which stop threads are integrated that have a greater
resistance to tearing than the textile base structure and that are
longer than the textile base structure.
2. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein a knitted
fabric is the textile base structure.
3. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein the stop
threads are aligned generally parallel to the tension of the
air-bag cover hinge.
4. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein the stop
threads are distributed uniformly over the textile base
structure.
5. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein there is a
repeating array of two standing threads of the textile base
structure with a stop thread.
6. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein the textile
base structure can move relative to the stop threads.
7. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein the stop
threads are aligned substantially longitudinally generally parallel
to the tension of the hinge, but extending in stores substantially
transversely or longitudinally to the tension.
8. The air-bag cover hinge according to wherein the stop threads
extend longitudinally as meanders, zigzags, tubularly, arcuately,
in waves and/or self-overlapping in order to allow travel.
9. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein the textile
base structure is imbedded in a textile surface pattern of a
knitted fabric.
10. The air-bag cover hinge according to claim 1 wherein the stop
threads have different lengths or different resistance to tearing
relative to one another.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to an air-bag cover hinge having a
textile hinge that can be connected both to the air-bag cover and
to a support carrying the air-bag cover.
[0002] When the air-bag deploys the air-bag cover opens to enable
the air-bag to open out and the air-bag cover hinge enables the
air-bag cover to be guided on opening.
[0003] An air-bag hinge made of woven fabric or knitted fabric is
known from WO 2003/033313 "Inner lining component for vehicles"
[U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,781]. Depending on the size of the air-bag
cover used, different forces act on the hinge of the air-bag cover
when the air-bag deploys. The bigger the air-bag cover or the
heavier an air-bag, the greater the forces acting on the hinge that
must on the one hand ensure that the air-bag cover opens easily
when the air-bag deploys and on the other hand however must ensure
that separation of the air-bag cover from the support enclosing it
is excluded in all cases so as not to endanger people in the
vicinity of the air-bag.
[0004] In the case of the hinge of an air-bag cover known from the
prior art the hinge configured as woven fabric or knitted fabric
tears can tear under unfavorable conditions.
[0005] The object of the invention is to design a hinge for an
air-bag cover such that it securely prevents tearing or loosening
of the hinge for the air-bag cover with cost-effective
reproducibility and also enables easy opening of the air-bag
cover.
[0006] This object of the invention is attained by the concept in
the characterizing part of the principal claim.
[0007] In other words, a hinge for an air-bag cover is proposed
that has a multistage textile base structure in which stop threads
are integrated as load-absorption threads that have higher
resistance to tearing and a greater length than the textile base
structure.
[0008] With this design, two systems are integrated, i.e. a system
that tears whenever a predetermined tension is exceeded in order to
take up most of the resulting tension, and a second system which
allows a defined opening of the air-bag cover (opening angle) with
a secure hold.
[0009] Advantageous embodiments are explained in the independent
claims.
[0010] The base structure is advantageously configured as knitted
fabric so as to be cost effective and provide optimal handling.
[0011] In an advantageous embodiment the "stop threads" (load
threads) are aligned generally parallel to the tension of the
hinge, with uniform distribution of the stop threads over the
textile base structure being advantageous to constantly get an
adequate quantity of stop threads in the textile base structure
e.g. when the hinges are stamped out of a larger piece of
goods.
[0012] One feasible design is the uniform sequence of two standing
threads of the textile base structure and a stop thread (load
absorption thread), this sequence however being adapted
corresponding to conditions.
[0013] In an advantageous embodiment the textile base structure is
configured relative to the stop threads (load absorption threads)
such that there is initial tearing of the base structure.
[0014] Relative to the threads of the textile base structure the
stop threads have a greater length and for example are configured
meandering, zigzag, tubular, arched, corrugated and/or
self-overlapping in their longitudinal direction such that the stop
threads have a store that extends substantially transversely and/or
longitudinally to the direction of pull.
[0015] The proposed multistage structure, comprising a textile base
structure and stop threads (load absorption threads), can for its
part be embedded in a textile surface pattern, such that when there
is tension of the cover hinge, tearing or opening of the textile
base structure along with stop threads (load absorption threads)
occurs from this textile surface pattern to dismantle forces
already occurring from this tearing or opening procedure at least
to a certain degree and at the same time to define the travel for
opening (opening angle) the air-bag flap.
[0016] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the
diagrams, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1a-FIG. 1d show an embodiment of the invention in
different stages as the hinge is tensioned,
[0018] FIG. 1e-FIG. 1h show another embodiment in different stages
as the hinge is tensioned,
[0019] FIGS. 2 and 3 show further designs.
[0020] With reference to FIG. 1a to FIG. 1d an air-bag cover hinge
is indicated at 1, and comprises threads 2 and 3 of a textile base
structure 4 here a knitted fabric.
[0021] So-called stop threads 5, which are of high-strength (e.g.
dtex 1100), are integrated into this textile base structure,
whereas the textile base structure (also comprising polyester or
other suitable materials) is not made to be of high strength.
[0022] The stop threads 5 are aligned generally parallel to tension
acting on the hinge on opening of the air-bag cover, and have at
least one store 6 where the stop threads extend substantially
transversely to the tension.
[0023] Integrated thread laying (travel storage) stores
(contiguously FIG. 1a or partial FIG. 1b) enable load absorption
via the strength of the threads and defined opening of the air-bag
flap over the possible travel.
[0024] Following actuation of the air bag, its cover holding the
air bag opens and the textile base structure 4 incorporated in the
vicinity of the air-bag cover hinge is expanded on opening of the
hinge until it tears. The procedure of loading the hinge is shown
schematically in FIGS. 1c and 1d. The textile base structure also
expands first in the vicinity of the store 6, where the
high-strength stop threads 5 permit this expansion of the textile
base structure until it tears (load absorption).
[0025] In the embodiment of FIG. 1c for example the store of the
stop threads 5 is shown by the meandering or zigzag inlay.
[0026] FIG. 1d shows for example extension of the stop threads
released on opening of the air-bag cover with simultaneous load
absorption by the stop threads.
[0027] The total strength of the air-bag cover hinge 1 is
determined depending on the number of stop threads or on the
resistance to tearing of these stop threads 5.
[0028] In a textile embodiment in each case there can be two
(standing) threads 3 of the textile base structure 4 and these can
be attached to a stop thread 5 to produce a repeating array of two
threads 3 of the textile base structure 4 and one stop thread 5
over the width of the air-bag cover hinge 1. However, it should be
understood that according to the circumstances the actual
embodiments can be adapted depending on the desired resistance to
tearing.
[0029] With reference to FIG. 1c, in another (multistage) opening
of the air-bag cover the situation of the air-bag cover hinge 1 is
shown, where the threads 3 of the textile base structure 4 are torn
by tension (expansion) and the stop threads 5 running transversely
and/or longitudinally in the store 6 are aligned according to the
tension.
[0030] In the case of more tension, the situation according to FIG.
1d arises due to wider opening of the air-bag cover, where the
force-absorbing stop threads 5 both now hold torn apart portions 4a
and 4b of the textile base structure. Tearing of the entire air-bag
cover hinge 1 is securely prevented by the high-strength formation
of the stop threads 5. The thread storing unblocks the required
travel for opening of the air-bag cover and at the same time
prevents unwanted tearing off of the air-bag cover.
[0031] The maximal expansion range of the air-bag cover hinge 1,
i.e. the spacing of the portions 4a and 4b of the base structure 4,
is defined by the length of the transverse stop threads 5 in the
store 6. The number and resistance to tearing of the stop threads 5
must be set such that the latter absorb residual forces after
tearing of the expanded textile base structure 4 (multistage
process).
[0032] FIGS. 1f and g show that the stop threads can have different
lengths and/or different resistances to tearing relative to one
another so as to execute dual-stage or multistage load absorption
on opening.
[0033] In a further embodiment according to FIG. 2 the stop threads
5 are configured substantially according to the tension of the
air-bag cover hinge 1, whereby the stop threads 5 have a certain
elasticity and expansion, thereby enabling predetermined load
absorption via the textile base structure 4.
[0034] After tearing of the threads 3 of the textile base structure
4, holding together of the torn portions 4a and 4b of the textile
base structure is ensured or the air-bag cover hinge 1 is prevented
from fully tearing apart.
[0035] In the other embodiments according to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 the
stop threads 5 extend as meanders or zigzags in the textile base
structure 4 resulting in a "store" configured over the entire
length of the stop threads 5 such that the stop threads enable
expansion and subsequent tearing of the threads 3 of the textile
base structure 4 and thus prevent the portions 4a and 4b of the
textile base structure 4 from fully tearing apart.
[0036] In FIG. 4 the meandering or zigzag stop threads/load
absorption threads extend in the store such that the storage
travels and strengths define the load absorption in the axis of
rotation of the air-bag flap and enable the opening angle of the
air-bag flap and then prevent the portions 4a and 4b of the textile
base structure from fully tearing apart.
* * * * *